Space saver dish strainer

ABSTRACT

This Space Saver Dish Strainer is appealing due to its ease of use, adjustable design, convenience, durability, effectiveness, time-savings, and practicality. This dish strainer has two shelf compartments enough room for a typical day of dishes. The strainer will allow the water to drain from dishes directly into the sink below. The circulating air that is above the sink that runs through the plastic or rubber-coated wires would facilitate a more sanitary method of drying dishes, dishes would be safe from germs, bacteria, residue, odors and detergents from draining base, and the dishes could be dried in a timely and effective fashion. This kitchen tool would save a busy homemaker a considerable amount of time and energy while washing and drying dishes and when the dishes are dry, no mess is left behind, and it is simply folded down and slide it under the sink. While dishes are drying individuals would feel free to wash their hands in the sink. This strainer could be welcomed by individuals who dry dishes normally by hand. It could also appeal to dishwasher-owners who use a drying rack for pots, pans, china, glassware, etc. The Space Saver Dish Strainer would be compact, easy to use, durable convenient, effective, reasonably priced, sanitary, timesaving, and would have a solid construction. Not only is it convenient for the home, but also great for away from home like in your mobile home, houseboat, RV, camper, or out on the trail backpacking or camping.

SPECIFICATIONS OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention of the Space Saver Dish Strainer is an improved method of dish drying that resembles the present dish strainers in that the material is made of plastic-coated wire but unlike the present, this one is supported by chain link for all parts of the plastic-coated wire. Also, while other models are intended to be placed into the sink or are placed on the counter-top, this “space saver dish strainer” conveniently eliminates the use of the counter space and the sink space and simply uses the air space directly above the sink. Dishes dry faster and it eliminates the possibility of mildew and bacteria build-up on the counter-top, while at the same time, freeing up the sink space for washing and/or rinsing the dishes. When this Space Saver Dish Strainer is not in use, it can be folded down and slid under the sink into a tray or container (open-ended) designed for easy storage. Another container thought of and designed for this invention would be a cabinet that would be mounted next to your original cabinets (made of the same wood/wood fiber) that is designed specifically to contain the strainer. The strainer would fold out of the cabinet just as the old style ironing boards did in the late '60s and drop directly over the sink. Cabinet manufacturers could add the feature to a new set of cabinets or simply match the wood type of the old cabinets.

TITLE OF INVENTION

[0002] Space Saver Dish Strainer

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0004] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0005] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This invention relates to the field of home economics. If you own an old home, chances are you have a small kitchen. If you own a camper, RV, or houseboat, you have a small kitchen. If you live in another country, chances are you have a small kitchen. Also, if you camp with only a tent, a kitchen doesn't exist. This invention will free up any available space you normally place dishes while they are drying and while camping the Space Saver Dish Strainer can be attached to a tree and all your clean dishes will be free from the ground. The present invention that is almost similar to the Space Saver Dish Strainer, is a plastic-coated wire item dish strainer that is placed on top of the counter top or fits in most sinks.

[0007] One problem with the present dish strainer is that it takes up too much needed space on the counter-top or in the sink. It is difficult to utilize the counter with the dish strainer on top of it and it is difficult to rinse dishes when it has the dish strainer in it. This Space Saver Dish Strainer hangs above your rinse sink and can be used by a person who is a right sided rinse-sink person or a left-sided rinse person. It can be hung from either side.

[0008] Another problem with the present dish strainer is that the water doesn't strain away from the flat surface beneath the dishes fast enough. The shape of the flat surface has only a slight incline, where there is water that rest on top of a flat surface, for any length of time, there is going to be puddles, germs, bacteria, residue, odors and left-over detergents and eventually mildew. This dish drying rack would provide a more sanitary method of drying dishes. The excess water is quickly and easily drained away from the dishes into the sink. The Space Saver Dish Strainer features a series of vertically hung compartments to allow water from glasses, saucers, plates, silverware and other items to drain directly into the sink through the wire openings and down into the sink, not resting on the top of your counter-top. Thus, they could be dried in a timely and effective fashion. The hanging design would allow air to circulate to speed up the drying process.

[0009] Another problem with the present dish strainer is that once you've completed the dishes, you have no place to easily store away the strainer. It doesn't fold away, it's size is about 12-13 inches square and five inches deep. This modernized, fold away rack folds down to 13×two inches. The Space Saver Dish Strainer would be compact and easy to use, convenient, effective, and sanitary.

[0010] It would feature a holder for utensils (net-like basket), a molded plate and bowl rack (as in present design) and enough room for cups and pans. There are many products formed from the plastic-coated metal wire. Many department stores, drug stores, and grocery stores carry them. The plastic coating on these products is preferred due to is durability. This material is corrosion-resistant and works well in any area that water is utilized. This alternative to drying dishes would also benefit in restaurants for use in commercial kitchens.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In summary, the Space Saver Dish Strainer will save valuable space for those who work in the kitchen. Especially if you live in an older home, if you live in a mobile home, houseboat, or RV, or it can conveniently be connected to a tree out in the woods while camping or backpacking. Even if you do have plenty of counter space, the Space Saver Dish Strainer is definitely more sanitary than the traditional method of setting the dishes out to dry. The air circulation surrounding the dishes aids the excess water to run directly into the sink, thus keeping clean dishes away from the mold and mildew and allowing them to dry faster. Also, the Space Saver Dish Strainer is conveniently collapsible so that it can be stored away easily when the dishes are dry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0012] Drawing I of V—This is a top view, looking down of the 1^(st) and 2^(nd) layers of the Space Saver Dish Strainer (“strainer”). The sizes are depicted on it. For the strainer that hangs over the sink by a hook, the dimensions are 13″ by 13″ square. The dimensions of the strainer that would fit into a cabinet are 13″×10″. The lifts and the other dimensions of this construction are exactly like the present dish strainer, with preference to the 1″ square gaps. Toward the bottom of the top view there is two different types of plastic coated wires. One is labeled hook and the other is labeled eye. The hook plastic-coated wire is for the bottom layer only. The hook allows the chain link to begin with a sturdy connector, each of the 4 sides treated individually. All four chains will connect through all the eyes, working their way to the top of the entire construction at which point they meet and to connect for the main chain that it hangs by. The main chain will be the chain that connects to the hanging devise. The eye, plastic-coated wire will be used for all protective bars and the top layer of the strainer. It is important that all the chains are connected to these loops at precisely equal links. This will keep the entire strainer level. Both layers, top and bottom, should have a double stack of the plastic coated wire on the outer edges to give the layers an lift. The bottom of the hook layer-outer rim would be double and the bottom of the eye layer (top shelf)-outer rim would be double.

[0013] Drawing II of V—This drawing is the front view of the entire construction of the strainer (not including the hooks and the hanging devise). The entire strainer will take up 22 inches of air space above your sink (either on the left or the right). The recommended distance above the sink facet is seven inches. This allows plenty of room to move the facet back and forth. The distance from the bottom layer to the first protective bar and second protective bar is 2 inches. This will help to keep the cups, saucers and bowls inside the strainer. I have allowed another 4 inches for room to place the dishes inside the strainer on the lower level. Also on the lower level is the placement for the silverware basket. This basket is made of a rubber or plastic fish/net construction. On the left corner, rear of strainer, is where the silverware basket will be placed. To keep the silverware basket in place, 2 or 4 rubber stoppers will need to be placed on protective bars to keep the silverware basket in place. These will keep it from sliding and you can place silverware in and out with ease. All the plastic-coated wires shouldn't be more than ¼ inch thick.

[0014] Drawing III of V—This drawing shows in more detail what the silverware basket should look like at its placement on the top of the top protective bar on the 1st layer. A flimsy material used will allow it to collapse with the entire construction. Toward the bottom of the page is a view of the sample of hanging devises if not constructed with the cabinet type. The swivel hanger is a present model and has been used for a plant hanger. It would be important, however, that the hook part of the hanger locked and its position while outward locked. The hook that is at the bottom of the page is also a present model and should also lock. This hook is hanging from the hook in the ceiling. Both the ceiling hook and the swivel hook should be constructed to hold up to 25-30 pounds.

[0015] Drawing IV of V—This drawing is only to show a side view of the cabinet that would contain the strainer model designed for it (13″×10″). Like the ironing-board that use to be hidden away in a cabinet, so is this Space Saver Dish Strainer. The cabinet is only 3″ thick that would be added to the end of your other cabinets, if you have them close to your sink that is. Typically, cabinets do end at the sink. The height would be 30″ for the cabinet.

[0016] Drawing V of V—This is another drawing of the side-view of the cabinet model of the strainer. In this view has the cabinet open to give a better view of what the strainer looks like out. This cabinet is 30″ tall, some cabinets may be a little smaller but the extended arm that has the Space Saver Dish Strainer on it is connected at 12″ up from the bottom. This allows the same distance for moving the facet back and forth. Depending on left/right side preference, is the side you have the cabinet installed. The door to the cabinet opens away from you, toward the wall. There is a clasp on the inside of the cabinet that holds the construction in and allows it to come out easily.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The Space Saver Dish Strainer (strainer) could be produced easily using convention and readily available materials and manufacturing processes. No new production technology would be required. The strainer could be produced from a plastic-or rubber coated wire, the use of a small but durable chain with connectors and the rubber or plastic made net-like basket for the silverware. Additionally, all the hanging devises are present models and do not require new technology and cabinets are made to fit any size you require in your kitchen. Placing a collapsible strainer inside the cabinet is not a typical use for the cabinet, but it to would not require any new technology. 

1. What I claim as my invention is that the Space Saver Dish Strainer is just that—It saves space in the kitchen.
 2. What I also claim is that air drying the dishes which allows the excess water to stain off quicker is much more sanitary than drying on the sink top or inside the sink above a puddle of water.
 3. What I claim to be my final claim is that this strainer is easier to collapse and store away after the dishes are dry. 